Three fires in Durham: Barn destroyed in one

DURHAM — State fire Marshals are working with the Durham police and fire departments to investigate three fires that occurred within less than three hours of each other Saturday morning.

After working on the five alarm 135 Bow St. fire in Portsmouth, Durham Fire Chief Corey Landry said he got just a few hours of sleep before A mattress fire was called at 15 Main St. in Durham at 1:08 a.m. Saturday.

“There was no suspicion at the time,” he said.

At 2:49 a.m., however, a first alarm outside fire was called in at 20 Main St. Landry said the fire started in a pile of recyclables. The fire did extend to the outside wall of the home, but Landry said it was taken care of quickly.

At 3:30 a.m., a structure fire was called in almost across the street from the 20 Main St. fire. The fire was in a barn, attached to a three-unit apartment building, behind the Community Church on Smith Park Lane.

“The fire was as high as the trees when I got to the scene,” Landry said.

Due to the fire on 20 Main St., Landry said he had nine to 12 firefighters immediately ready to control the barn fire.

Dover, Newmarket, Lee and Madbury were called to the scene for the outside fire and were on hand for the barn fire.

“Police were the first on scene, noticing the fire showing,” Landry said. “We came across the street and this fire was blowing. It was taking off.”

Landry said the blaze went from a first alarm to a four alarm fairly quickly.

“We were able to pull up to the scene with a full crew, which you normally don't have right away in this town. That helped us with the save,” Landry said.

No residents were home at the time, but there were two reported injuries. A police officer and a firefighter both were taken to the hospital, but have since been released. One pulled a muscle while the other slipped on ice.

Landry does not know how the fire started at this point and does not know if the three fires are related, but because of their close proximity to each other and the times that they occurred, they are under investigation.

The barn, which was destroyed, housed a lot of the owner's belongings.

“He said his life was in the barn,” Landry said.

Aside from the loss of the barn, the apartment units were still standing and most of the building was unharmed.